NELLORE: Nellore, with a population of around 7 lakh and aiming to become a 'Smart City' has no footpaths for pedestrians. The city is having a wide network of roads that includes CC and BT roads to an extent of 320 km, there is no single stretch foot path has been constructed according to the Indian Road Congress (IRC) guidelines.
Due to the apathy of the civic authorities, about 90 percent of the city's footpaths which are constructed in some places have been encroached upon by commercial establishments, vendors, government departments and others. Vehicular moment especially in morning and evening times in between RTC circle to Atmakur Bustand is very congested.
Employees, students and other persons choose to travel GNT road for their works. Majority of the pedestrians who moves on the GNT were forced to walk on the roads due to lack of footpaths. As per IRC guidelines, every walkable footpath should have be at least 3.5 metres wide and just six inches in height.
For instance, the footpath along Childrens park has been encroached upon by street vendors in the area. There is no footpath in the city that could be used by specially-abled persons. N.Venkat Narayana, a resident of Childrens park area, said that some of the street vendors in the area have encroached on the footpath 'It has become a nightmare for the elderly and children who have to walk on the road escaping speeding vehicles,' he said.
Though the city is having mini by pass road which is parallel to the GNT road majority of the commuters travel on Grand Trunk Road for their needs. Both the GNT and mini by pass road have no single stretch foot path for pedestrians. Autos and parked vehicles infront of the big shopping malls and small shops are creating troubles to the pedestrians forcing them to walk on the roads.
Pedestrians in the city especially on the Grand Trunk Road in between RTC circle to Atmakur Bus stand have been facing severe troubles due to lack of footpaths. 'Where are footpaths in Nellore city. I have never such type of paths in the city which are meant to walk for pedestrains in the city. The civic body had not maintaining a plan in the city,' said S.Ramesh babu, a resident of Balaji Nagar.
Majority of the students, daily labours and private employees from rural areas would move to R.T.C bus complex from V.R circle by walk. K.Suresh, a student who walks from his private college near to V.R circle to R.T.C bus complex in the city, says, 'I frequently get hit by handles of two-wheelers because I have to walk on the road.
We are forced to walk on the roads as there were no foot paths in the city'. Meanwhile, road margins in Gandhi statue centre, KVR petrol bunk, Vedayapalem centre and also in Stonehousepet areas have been turned as parking areas forcing pedestrians to walk on the roads. Nellore Mayor Sk.Abdul Aziz said that they would launch an encroachment removal drive in the city. We would provide space for walking to the pedestrains, he added.